Advocacy News – June 5, 2024
What’s new: Both the state House and Senate budgets include provisions that would significantly impact Michigan’s already struggling childcare environment. Even more troubling, these provisions impact the supply of childcare providers and the ability to hire and retain qualified early childhood educators.
- The House budget currently contains a policy change that would eliminate funding for community-based childcare organizations (CBO’s) and instead redirect that funding to childcare providers that operate within an intermediate school district (ISD).
- The Senate budget, on the other hand, requires childcare facilities to provide pay parity comparable to K-12 teachers within a region’s ISD. Although early childcare educators deserve competitive salaries, forcing providers to compensate in a similar manner as school districts, which receive taxpayer dollars, is a difficult task that would likely result in more providers closing their doors.
The bottom line: Michigan cannot afford for childcare providers and facilities to lose funding or be forced into requirements that are simply impossible to reach. In an era where employers and employees are desperate for childcare affordable and accessible childcare options, these provisions would put the Great Lakes State on the wrong track forward.
What we’re saying: Read the letter the MI Chamber and other business organizations drafted to legislators voicing concerns over the current budget language.
For questions or more information, please contact Leah Robinson.